Mostefa Ben-Boulaïd () (5 February 1917 – 22 March 1956) was an Algerian revolutionary leader.

Biography

World War II

Ben-Boulaid was born in

Arris In architecture, an arris is the sharp edge formed by the intersection of two surfaces, such as the corner of a masonry unit; the edge of a timber in timber framing; the junction between two planes of plaster or any intersection of divergent a ...

Batna Province Batna Province (, Latn, ar, Wilāyat Bātnah) is a provinces of Algeria, province of Algeria, in the region of Aurès. The capital is Batna (city), Batna. Localities in this province include N'Gaous, Merouana and Timgad. Belezma National Park i ...

Algeria Algeria, officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered to Algeria–Tunisia border, the northeast by Tunisia; to Algeria–Libya border, the east by Libya; to Alger ...

. In 1939, he underwent mandatory military service and was mobilized to fight for the allies during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. In 1944, during the Italian campaign, Ben-Boulaid exhibited courage, which earned him the Military Medal and the

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

. He was demobilised with the rank of adjutant, returned home, and joined the

Algerian People's Party The Algerian People's Party, was a successor organization of the North African Star, led by veteran Algerian nationalist Messali Hadj. It was formed on March 11, 1937. In 1936, the Etoile Nord Africaine (ENA), its predecessor, had joined the Fren ...

Revolutionary figure

Ben-Boulaid became an important political and military figure in the Special Organization (OS). He bought weapons with his own funds, supported militants being pursued by the French authorities and distributed arms. Ben-Boulaid contested the Assembly of Algeria election of 1948 and won decisively. However, the colonial administration annulled the election. He was a founding member of the

Revolutionary Committee of Unity and Action Revolutionary Committee for Unity and Action (in French: ''Comité Révolutionnaire d'Unité et d'Action'') was a militant group in Algeria formed in order to fight French rule. CRUA regrouped former elements of the OS and radical members of the ...

. From 22 to 25 June 1954, he chaired a crucial meeting which aimed to unite the revolutionary forces. He became a member of the "Committee of the Six" ( the insurgent leaders). During the

Algerian war The Algerian War (also known as the Algerian Revolution or the Algerian War of Independence) ''; '' (and sometimes in Algeria as the ''War of 1 November'') was an armed conflict between France and the Algerian National Liberation Front (Algeri ...

, Ben-Boulaid was responsible for Area I (

Aurès Aurès () is a natural region located in the mountainous area of the Aurès Mountains, Aurès range, in eastern Algeria. The region includes the provinces of Algeria, Algerian provinces of Batna Province, Batna, Tebessa Province, Tebessa, Consta ...

). He engaged heavily armed French forces and suffered heavy losses. In 1955, he traveled to

Libya Libya, officially the State of Libya, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya border, the east, Sudan to Libya–Sudan border, the southeast, Chad to Chad–L ...

to purchase arms. He participated in the battle of Ifri el blah and the battle of Ahmar Khaddou near Batna.

Arrest and escape

On 11 February 1955, Ben-Boulaid was arrested in Tunisia. Ben-Boulaid was imprisoned at "Coudiat Jail", the "Central Prison of

Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I * Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine g ...

" and was sentenced to death. In November 1955, he escaped along other inmates, with the complicity of a prison warden, Djaffer Chérif, also called Lakhdar, who was a Chaoui from Béni Frah. One of the other prisoners was

Tahar Zbiri Tahar Zbiri (; 4 April 1929 – 30 October 2024) was an Algerian military officer, best known for his role in the country's post-independence military and political developments, particularly his involvement in an attempted coup against the gov ...

, who went on to initiate a failed coup against President

Houari Boumediene Houari is a given name and surname. It may refer to: Persons Given name *Houari Boumédiène, also transcribed Boumediene, Boumedienne etc. (1932–1978), served as Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Algeria from 19 June 1965 until 12 Decembe ...

in 1967. During the escape, one of Ben-Boulaid's comrades was injured, recaptured, and subsequently

decapitated Decapitation is the total separation of the head from the body. Such an injury is invariably fatal to humans and all vertebrate animals, since it deprives the brain of oxygenated blood by way of severing through the jugular vein and common ...

Death

On 21 March 1956, Ben-Boulaïd died in the blast of a parachuted French radio bomb.

Gallery

File:Benboulaid buste.jpg, The bust of Mostefa Ben-Boulaïd in

Wilaya of Batna File:Tombe nara.jpg, The tomb of Si Moustefa (right) and his companion Amrani (left) in Nara, Arris wilaya of Batna File:Mustapha Ben boulaïd.jpg, Photo taken after his arrest (11 February 1955)

Legacy

The main squares of Batna and Arris host busts of Ben-Boulaid. In Batna, an alley and a high school was named for him. In

Annaba Annaba (), formerly known as Bon, Bona and Bône, is a seaport city in the northeastern corner of Algeria, close to the border with Tunisia. Annaba is near the small Seybouse River and is in the Annaba Province. With a population of about 263,65 ...

, one of the avenues that connects Bertagna boulevard (formerly Cours Bertagna) and the Avenue of the Revolution bears his name as do the neighborhoods of Saint-Cloud, Plaisance and Kouba, and beaches and Chapuis Toche. The airport of Batna is named after Ben-Boulaid.

In culture

In 2006-2007, Ahmed Rachedi produced a documentary ' in collaboration with the Ministry of Veterans (''Ministère des Moudjahidine'') and the Ministry of Culture (''Ministère de la culture et l'entreprise'') and Missane Balkis films. It was part of the 2007 festival, "Algiers, Capital of Arab Culture" ("''Alger, capitale de la culture arabe 2007")''.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benboulaid, Mustapha 1917 births 1956 deaths Algerian People's Party politicians Algerian guerrillas killed in action Algerian revolutionaries Berber rebels Chaoui people French Army personnel of World War II People from Batna Province Members of the National Liberation Front (Algeria) 20th-century Algerian people Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1939–1945 (France)